Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Africa and Nelson Mandela

A few weeks ago Racker and I talked about a
theme for the party on Saturday December 14.

Racker came with the idea to do a African
party. 'I've learned that Racker knows a lot about African music and looking
forward to hear his set. Last week Nelson Mandela died and Racker did send me
the message that all the songs he will play, Saturday December 14, will be dedicated
to Nelson Mandela.

Today was the memorial service for Nelson
Mandela.

U.S. President Barack Obama shook hands
with Cuban President Raul Castro today at a memorial service for former South
African president Nelson Mandela — an almost unprecedented moment between two
deeply opposed neighbours.

I was deeply impressed by Obama's speech and specially
this part:

“The
struggles that follow the victory of formal equality or universal franchise may
not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but
they are no less important. For around the world today, we still see children
suffering from hunger and disease. We still see run-down schools. We still see
young people without prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and
women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs, and are still
persecuted for what they look like, and how they worship, and who they love.
That is happening today."

“And so we,
too, must act on behalf of justice. We, too, must act on behalf of peace. There
are too many people who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial
reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would
challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders
who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate
dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us on the sidelines,
comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.”